Reel



Lil

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in conductor reels such as are employed by miners in reeling or unreeling the usual shot lines.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a reel with which is associated a switch for normally maintaining the shot line in a closed circuit so that wet rails and other damp structures cannot result in the shorting of the line with the result that the shot is fired prematurely, frequently with mishaps.

An important object of the invention is to provide a reel which is of simple construction, and one which is easy to manipulate and convenient to use in regard to the switch employed.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the switch structure.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the reel with a portion adjacent the switch broken away.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the reel showing the switch.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents a base plate of insulation along the front and rear edges of which are disposed the plates 6-5 from which rise the tubular metal posts "i-J which are disposed to form the side rails 8. A brace member 9 is provided for the front and rear of the frame work, each of these braces extending upwardly from the base of the corresponding post I inclinedly, touching the horizontal front and rear bar I6 as at H, and preferably welded thereto and extending downwardly to merge with the base portion of the corresponding front or rear post I.

A pair of semi-circular shaped super-frame members l2l2 have their lower end portions secured to the horizontal front and rear bars Hi, the upper portions of these frame members l2l 2 being connected by the bridge member I 3. A handle M extends upwardly over the bar l3 from the frame members l2-l 2 and is preferably rubber covered to form an insulated handle.

Uprights it at each end of the frame serve to support the bearings 56 through which the shaft 1'? is journaled. This shaft may be made up of telescopic sections and at one end is the hand crank it whereby the shaft and reel can be rotated.

The reel includes the side boards I 9 preferably of wood or some other suitable insulation between which extend the slats 20. Flanges 2| are provided on the axle shaft l1 and these are bolted or otherwise secured to the side boards l9 and 29 as at 22.

On one of the side boards I9 is the switch as- 5 sembly generally referred to by numeral 23 and this consists of the plate 24 of insulation suitably secured in a pocket 25 in the outside of the board l9.

Adjacent the pocket 25 are the openings 26 through which the conductor wire of the shot line is disposed to connect to the point shank 28 on which is the binding post 30. The shank 21 has the binding post 29 to which a ground wire 29a is attached.

Clamp members 3l-32 are employed on the plate 24 for clamping the shank 21 to the plate while the shank 29 is secured in place against a plate of insulation 33. 'The remaining end of the shank 28 is provided with the inturned foot 34 to which is clamped as at 35, the point 36. The remaining end of the shank 21 is provided with the offset 3? on which is the point 38 which is substantially longer than the point 36. A finger 39 is slidably disposed on the shank 21 between the clamps 3l-32 and against the action of the spring 45.

It can now be seen that with the shot line unreeled from the reel to a point where firing is safe, the operator can remove the finger 39 from 30 engagement with the foot 34 (see Figure 2) which will open the circuit of the shot line and the operator may now place his battery over the points 36 and 38 for charging the shot line with electricity for firing the shot.

Thus it can be seen that with the shot line forming a closed circuit by having the finger 39 engaging the foot 34, there is no likelihood of the shot being fired prematurely and this condition of the shot line will remain until the operator opens 40 this circuit by removing the finger 39, which of course will take place just momentarily before the battery is applied to the points 36 and 38.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A shot line reel comprising a rotary reel spool, and a circuit-closing switch on the spool to which the line is connected, said switch having a battery-engaging point at each side thereof,

said switch means including a shank for each of the points and one of the shanks being grounded, a slidable finger on the grounded shank engageable with the foot of the other shank for maintaining a closed circuit with the shot line.

2. A shot line reel comprising a rotary reel spool, and a circuit-closing switch on the spool to which the line is connected, said switch having a battery-engaging point at each side thereof, said points each including a shank, one of said shanks being grounded, the other shank being provided with a foot, said grounded shank having a movable finger thereon removably engageable with the said foot, and means on one shank whereby a shot line can be connected thereto.

GARVIE LEE TOLLIVER. 

